Somali Red Crescent Society, ICRC train 72 responders ahead of expected El Niño floods

Nairobi (HOL) — The Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) is training 72 people, including 60 community volunteers, to respond to expected El Niño-related flooding along Somalia’s Juba and Shabelle rivers, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced this week.

The training, supported by the ICRC, is taking place in flood-prone areas including Bardere, Jowhar, Beletweyne and Kismayo and focuses on practical skills needed during flood emergencies. Participants are being trained in boat handling, safety procedures and communication techniques used during rescue operations.

The preparations come as Somalia faces a heightened risk of severe flooding during the October-to-December Deyr rainy season.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned in September that strengthening El Niño conditions could bring significantly above-normal rainfall to much of central and southern Somalia. Some areas have as much as a 90% probability of receiving above-normal rainfall, with particular concern along the Juba and Shabelle river basins.

Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) authorities estimate that between 2.5 million and 3.5 million people could be exposed to flooding this season and that as many as 1 million people could be displaced from farming and grazing areas.

The SRCS and ICRC are seeking to position rescue teams before rivers overflow and access to vulnerable communities becomes difficult.

Similar El Niño conditions caused widespread flooding in Somalia in 2023, when Somali Red Crescent boat teams were involved in rescuing people from inundated areas.

The 2023 floods affected about 2.5 million people and displaced more than 1 million, damaging homes, farms, roads and other infrastructure across large parts of the country.

The latest flood threat comes as millions of Somalis are already facing food insecurity following repeated droughts, conflict and displacement. The government and United Nations project that 5.4 million people will face crisis levels of hunger or worse between October and December, including 1.5 million facing emergency levels.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that severe flooding could destroy crops and livestock, disrupt markets, contaminate water sources and trigger additional displacement.

The Red Crescent training is intended to ensure teams are able to begin rescue operations quickly if flooding materializes, particularly in riverine communities where roads and bridges can become inaccessible.